p class="MsoNormal"strongspan lang="EN"Chapter 117. Preventive revenge/span/strong/p
p class="MsoNormal"The Hanging Gardens of Babylon, like a giant emerald island, soared in the sky, towering above a sea of fluffy clouds. Waterfalls sparkled in the sun, cascading down from numerous terraces covered with exotic plants, and bizarre towers stretched to the sky, as if trying to reach the stars. In one of these towers, in a twilight laboratory, illuminated only by the flickering of potions, Severus Snape conjured over yet another of his creations./p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"His long, graceful fingers, accustomed to delicate work with magical ingredients, confidently measured out portions, and his black eyes, deep as the night itself, closely watched the process. Snape's every movement was measured and precise, like a skilled conductor directing a symphony of scents and colors. The smells of herbs, roots and rare minerals hung in the air, mixing into a bizarre but harmonious melody./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"As the potion slowly simmered in the cauldron, Snape's thoughts wandered to the past. He saw himself again as a young man, sitting under a spreading tree next to Lily Evans. Her green eyes sparkled with merriment, and her red hair fluttered in the wind like flames./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Severus, do you really think you can create a potion that will allow you to fly?" - she asked, looking at him with undisguised curiosity./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Of course, Lily," he answered, looking dreamily into the distance. "The possibilities of potion making are endless, you just need to know how to use them."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"Severus Snape watched with a heavy heart as the scene before his eyes transformed into a terrifying scene. Now he saw a child's room, in the center of which stood a wooden crib with a baby sleeping peacefully inside. But next to the cradle lay a motionless body - his beloved Lily./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"Snape froze, stricken with grief. He rushed to her while his heart was breaking from unbearable pain. With trembling hands, he clasped Lily's fragile body, trying to warm her, filled with despair and remorse. His heartbreaking sobs echoed throughout the room./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"He knew that no words or actions could bring her back to life. Now Snape was left completely alone, immersed in deep grief and regret. The vision began to fade again, but the image of the lifeless Lily was forever imprinted in his memory, reminding him of an irreparable loss./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"Suddenly the picture changed, and Dumbledore appeared before Snape's mind's eye, with his penetrating gaze and long gray beard./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Severus, you must do this. You must protect him. For Lily's sake," he said in a quiet but firm voice./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""I will do my best," Snape replied, and pain pierced his heart like a sharp splinter./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"The memories faded away like smoke and Snape returned to the present. He took the cauldron off the heat and, with habitual accuracy, poured the finished potion into vials. His gaze fell on the window, beyond which the endless blue of the sky stretched, and a bitter smile curved his lips./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Magic... Yes, magic is limitless. But even she has no power over time. And even more so, it is not subject to the stupidity and ambitions of some", he thought, remembering his recent conversation with Voldemort./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Severus, I found a way to win. Those Muggles have a time machine. With her help, I will go back in time and destroy Potter as a baby ," the Dark Lord said then, and his red eyes sparkled with a fanatical brilliance./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"Snape shook his head, remembering how Voldemort, obsessed with changing the past, rushed around the room like a hunted animal./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"- This is madness, my Lord. "Magic and technology are incompatible things," he tried to object, but Voldemort only waved his words away as if he were an annoying fly./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"- Nonsense, Severus! I'll find a way. And then Potter will be defeated once and for all!/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"Snape knew full well that Voldemort would stop at nothing. His obsession with the time machine was like a disease that was slowly but surely eating him from the inside./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"At that moment, Draco Malfoy entered the laboratory, his face was pale and fear was evident in his eyes. He nervously fiddled with the sleeve of his robes and avoided looking Snape in the eye./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Professor, I... I have to tell you something," he stammered./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"Snape raised an eyebrow, waiting for him to continue./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""I... I heard the Dark Lord talking about a time machine," Draco continued, lowering his voice to a whisper. "He wants to go back in time and ... and..."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""And kill Potter when he's still a baby," Snape finished for him./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"Draco flinched as if struck./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""But... but how? Is that possible?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Voldemort will stop at nothing, Draco," Snape replied, his voice as cold as ice. "He is obsessed with this idea. And if he finds a way to go back in time..."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"Snape didn't finish, but Draco already understood what he meant. The fate of Harry Potter, and perhaps the entire world, hung in the balance./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"Semiramis emerged from a dark corner of the laboratory, where shadows danced on the walls like ghosts of the past. Her graceful figure, dressed in a luxurious black dress decorated with gold patterns, moved with the grace of a panther. Long, black hair, like a silken waterfall, flowed over her shoulders, and her eyes, the color of dark amber, looked at the world with the insight and wisdom of an ancient queen./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"Semiramis listened to Draco's story in silence, her lips compressed into a thin line, and a barely noticeable wrinkle appeared on her forehead./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""A time machine..." she said thoughtfully, her voice was melodic, like the murmuring of a stream. "Interesting idea. But how feasible is it?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Voldemort is sure he will find a way," Snape replied, his voice sounding tired. "He is obsessed with this idea. And I'm afraid that he might go to any lengths to achieve his goal."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"Semiramis went to the window and looked at the endless expanses of the sky. Her gaze was directed into the distance, as if she saw through time and space./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""You can't change the past, Severus ," she said quietly. "And attempts to do so could lead to disastrous consequences."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"Snape was silent, his face as impenetrable as a mask./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""You think too much about the past, Severus," Semiramis continued, turning to him. "Oh Lily..." Her voice trembled, and for a moment a shadow of sympathy flashed in her eyes. "You must let her go, Severus." She wouldn't want you to suffer like that./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"Snape turned away sharply, as if her words had burned him./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""It's not for you to judge what Lily would like," he muttered through clenched teeth./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"Semiramis sighed and approached him, her movements were smooth and graceful, like a dancer. She placed her hand on his shoulder and a faint smile appeared on her face./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""I just want you to be happy, Severus ," she said softly. "You deserve it."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"Snape froze, feeling the warmth of her hand through the fabric of his robes. For a moment he felt like he was young again, and Lily was standing next to him, her eyes shining with love and care./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""I..." he began, but then stopped short, unable to find the words./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"Semiramis removed her hand and took a step back, her smile extinguished like a candle flame./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""You must decide for yourself, Severus ," she said, her voice becoming cold and distant again. "But remember, you can't change the past. And the future... the future can still be saved."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"Snape nodded silently and walked over to the table where the parchment and quill lay. He quickly wrote a few lines and rolled the parchment into a tube./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Draco," he said, handing him the note. "Send this to Potter. And as soon as possible."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"Draco took the note and, without saying a word, hurried out of the laboratory. Snape and Semiramis were left alone. They stood in silence, each immersed in their own thoughts. There was tension in the air, as if before a thunderstorm./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""You made the right choice, Severus ," Semiramis finally said, her voice quiet but firm./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"Snape didn't answer, but a hint of gratitude flashed in his eyes. He knew that Semiramis was right. He had to do everything he could to protect Harry Potter. For Lily's sake. For the sake of the future./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"strongspan lang="EN"***/span/strong/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"The sun was shining with all its might, flooding the majestic Millennium Fortress, spread out on the top of the hill with golden light, like a fairy-tale castle from ancient legends. Around the fortress stretched green meadows, dotted with bright flowers, and in the distance one could see dense forests stretching beyond the horizon./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, Ritsuka Fujimaru and Mash Kyrielight walked along the narrow path leading from the fortress to the foot of the hill. They were accompanied by homunculi led by Sigur, a tall and stately woman with long silver hair and piercing ruby eyes. Fiore and Caules Forvedge walked next to her, their faces serious and concentrated./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"The sun's rays played on Hermione's hair, giving it a shade of molten gold, and Ron had a wide smile on his face. He was glad to leave the gloomy walls of the fortress and return to the familiar world, where adventures and friends awaited him./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""I can't wait until we get back to Hogwarts ," he said, stretching like a cat in the sun. "I hope we will have a normal Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher this year."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Don't be so sure, Ron," Hermione countered, straightening the hair that had fallen down the bridge of her nose. - After everything that happened, the Ministry can appoint anyone./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""The main thing is that it's not Umbridge," Harry put in, and his friends nodded in agreement./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"At that moment, Caules Forvedge, walking a little behind, caught up with Harry and put his hand on his shoulder./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Harry," he said, his voice quiet and serious. "I have to ask you something."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Yes, of course," answered Harry, looking at Caules with curiosity./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""In the future from which you returned..." Caules began, and his voice trembled. "You could... could you protect Fiore and me then?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"Harry froze as if struck by thunder. He remembered the terrible events he had to endure, and pain pierced his heart like a sharp knife./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""I... I would willingly die for you," he answered, his voice hoarse. "But it wouldn't change anything. In that future, Voldemort won."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"Caules and Fiore looked at each other, their eyes widening in surprise./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""You... were you ready to die for us?" Fiore asked, her voice shaking with excitement. "For people you don't know at all?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""You are our new allies," Harry replied, a faint smile appearing on his face. "And I'm ready to do anything for my friends."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"Caules and Fiore were silent, shocked by his words. They had never met a man like Harry Potter, willing to sacrifice himself for others./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"At that moment something strange happened. Harry felt his body seem to dissolve into thin air, and everything swam before his eyes./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Harry!" Hermione exclaimed, but her voice sounded as if from afar./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"Harry tried to say something, but couldn't. He felt like he was being pulled into some kind of funnel, and he could not resist it./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"And then he disappeared./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"Mordred, Jeanne Alter and Ellen, walking slightly behind the main group, witnessed Harry's inexplicable disappearance. One moment he was there, and the next he disappeared into thin air like a ghost. The traitor knight, dressed in her shining armor, stopped abruptly, her piercing green eyes, blazing with inner fire, narrowed into slits./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Where did he go?" she growled, gripping the hilt of her sword so tightly that her knuckles turned white. "What kind of devilry is this?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"Jeanne Alter, dressed in her combat uniform, crossed her arms over her chest, her usually impassive face contorted in confusion./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Don't know. But it's not like regular magic," she replied, her voice sounding strained. "Something is unclean here."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"Ellen, in her elegant scarlet and white dress with gold accents, made in the Roman style, looked around, her golden eyes, like the eyes of a bird of prey, wary./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Something is wrong here," she repeated, her voice quiet but firm. "I feel... distortion. It was as if someone had interfered with the passage of time."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"At this moment, there was confusion all around. Ron, Hermione and Ritsuka ran around like lost children, not understanding what was happening. Their faces were pale, and fear was visible in their eyes. The homunculi, led by Sigur, bristled, their faces were distorted with anger, and a dangerous fire lit up in their eyes./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Who you are?" Sigur growled at Ron, Hermione and Ritsuka, her voice like thunder. "And what did you do with our guest?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""With what guest?" Ron asked in confusion, his voice trembling. "What are you talking about?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Don't play dumb!" Sigur snapped, her eyes flashing with anger. "You came here with Harry Potter. Where is he?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"Ron, Hermione and Ritsuka looked at each other, not understanding what Sigur was talking about./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""We... we don't know any Harry Potter," Hermione stammered, her voice barely audible./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""You're lying!" shouted the black-robed homunculus, his face red with rage. "You came here with him! And now he has disappeared! What did you do with him?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""We didn't do anything!" Ron was indignant, but his words were drowned in the general hubbub./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"The homunculi surrounded Ron, Hermione and Ritsuka, their eyes burning with hatred and their hands clenched into fists./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""They are lying!" one of the homunculi shouted. "They killed our guest!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Kill them!" picked up another./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Slow and painful!" added a third./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"Mordred, Jeanne Alter and Ellen watched from the sidelines without interfering./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""It looks like someone erased the memories of all these people," Mordred said, rubbing her chin thoughtfully. "And, apparently, he erased the memory of Harry."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""But who and why?" asked Jeanne Alter, frowning./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""That's what we need to find out," Ellen replied, her gaze fixed on Ron, Hermione and Ritsuka, surrounded by angry homunculi. "Otherwise things won't go well for these three."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"The atmosphere around was thickening like thunderclouds before a storm. The air was filled with tension and fear. And no one knew what would happen next./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"The Hanging Gardens of Babylon, like a giant emerald island, soared in the sky, towering above a sea of fluffy clouds. Waterfalls sparkled in the sun, cascading down from numerous terraces covered with exotic plants, and bizarre towers stretched to the sky, as if trying to reach the stars. In one of these towers, in a twilight laboratory, illuminated only by the flickering of potions, Severus Snape conjured over yet another of his creations./p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"His long, graceful fingers, accustomed to delicate work with magical ingredients, confidently measured out portions, and his black eyes, deep as the night itself, closely watched the process. Snape's every movement was measured and precise, like a skilled conductor directing a symphony of scents and colors. The smells of herbs, roots and rare minerals hung in the air, mixing into a bizarre but harmonious melody./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"As the potion slowly simmered in the cauldron, Snape's thoughts wandered to the past. He saw himself again as a young man, sitting under a spreading tree next to Lily Evans. Her green eyes sparkled with merriment, and her red hair fluttered in the wind like flames./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Severus, do you really think you can create a potion that will allow you to fly?" - she asked, looking at him with undisguised curiosity./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Of course, Lily," he answered, looking dreamily into the distance. "The possibilities of potion making are endless, you just need to know how to use them."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"Severus Snape watched with a heavy heart as the scene before his eyes transformed into a terrifying scene. Now he saw a child's room, in the center of which stood a wooden crib with a baby sleeping peacefully inside. But next to the cradle lay a motionless body - his beloved Lily./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"Snape froze, stricken with grief. He rushed to her while his heart was breaking from unbearable pain. With trembling hands, he clasped Lily's fragile body, trying to warm her, filled with despair and remorse. His heartbreaking sobs echoed throughout the room./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"He knew that no words or actions could bring her back to life. Now Snape was left completely alone, immersed in deep grief and regret. The vision began to fade again, but the image of the lifeless Lily was forever imprinted in his memory, reminding him of an irreparable loss./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"Suddenly the picture changed, and Dumbledore appeared before Snape's mind's eye, with his penetrating gaze and long gray beard./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Severus, you must do this. You must protect him. For Lily's sake," he said in a quiet but firm voice./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""I will do my best," Snape replied, and pain pierced his heart like a sharp splinter./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"The memories faded away like smoke and Snape returned to the present. He took the cauldron off the heat and, with habitual accuracy, poured the finished potion into vials. His gaze fell on the window, beyond which the endless blue of the sky stretched, and a bitter smile curved his lips./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Magic... Yes, magic is limitless. But even she has no power over time. And even more so, it is not subject to the stupidity and ambitions of some", he thought, remembering his recent conversation with Voldemort./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Severus, I found a way to win. Those Muggles have a time machine. With her help, I will go back in time and destroy Potter as a baby ," the Dark Lord said then, and his red eyes sparkled with a fanatical brilliance./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"Snape shook his head, remembering how Voldemort, obsessed with changing the past, rushed around the room like a hunted animal./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"- This is madness, my Lord. "Magic and technology are incompatible things," he tried to object, but Voldemort only waved his words away as if he were an annoying fly./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"- Nonsense, Severus! I'll find a way. And then Potter will be defeated once and for all!/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"Snape knew full well that Voldemort would stop at nothing. His obsession with the time machine was like a disease that was slowly but surely eating him from the inside./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"At that moment, Draco Malfoy entered the laboratory, his face was pale and fear was evident in his eyes. He nervously fiddled with the sleeve of his robes and avoided looking Snape in the eye./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Professor, I... I have to tell you something," he stammered./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"Snape raised an eyebrow, waiting for him to continue./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""I... I heard the Dark Lord talking about a time machine," Draco continued, lowering his voice to a whisper. "He wants to go back in time and ... and..."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""And kill Potter when he's still a baby," Snape finished for him./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"Draco flinched as if struck./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""But... but how? Is that possible?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Voldemort will stop at nothing, Draco," Snape replied, his voice as cold as ice. "He is obsessed with this idea. And if he finds a way to go back in time..."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"Snape didn't finish, but Draco already understood what he meant. The fate of Harry Potter, and perhaps the entire world, hung in the balance./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"Semiramis emerged from a dark corner of the laboratory, where shadows danced on the walls like ghosts of the past. Her graceful figure, dressed in a luxurious black dress decorated with gold patterns, moved with the grace of a panther. Long, black hair, like a silken waterfall, flowed over her shoulders, and her eyes, the color of dark amber, looked at the world with the insight and wisdom of an ancient queen./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"Semiramis listened to Draco's story in silence, her lips compressed into a thin line, and a barely noticeable wrinkle appeared on her forehead./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""A time machine..." she said thoughtfully, her voice was melodic, like the murmuring of a stream. "Interesting idea. But how feasible is it?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Voldemort is sure he will find a way," Snape replied, his voice sounding tired. "He is obsessed with this idea. And I'm afraid that he might go to any lengths to achieve his goal."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"Semiramis went to the window and looked at the endless expanses of the sky. Her gaze was directed into the distance, as if she saw through time and space./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""You can't change the past, Severus ," she said quietly. "And attempts to do so could lead to disastrous consequences."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"Snape was silent, his face as impenetrable as a mask./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""You think too much about the past, Severus," Semiramis continued, turning to him. "Oh Lily..." Her voice trembled, and for a moment a shadow of sympathy flashed in her eyes. "You must let her go, Severus." She wouldn't want you to suffer like that./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"Snape turned away sharply, as if her words had burned him./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""It's not for you to judge what Lily would like," he muttered through clenched teeth./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"Semiramis sighed and approached him, her movements were smooth and graceful, like a dancer. She placed her hand on his shoulder and a faint smile appeared on her face./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""I just want you to be happy, Severus ," she said softly. "You deserve it."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"Snape froze, feeling the warmth of her hand through the fabric of his robes. For a moment he felt like he was young again, and Lily was standing next to him, her eyes shining with love and care./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""I..." he began, but then stopped short, unable to find the words./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"Semiramis removed her hand and took a step back, her smile extinguished like a candle flame./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""You must decide for yourself, Severus ," she said, her voice becoming cold and distant again. "But remember, you can't change the past. And the future... the future can still be saved."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"Snape nodded silently and walked over to the table where the parchment and quill lay. He quickly wrote a few lines and rolled the parchment into a tube./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Draco," he said, handing him the note. "Send this to Potter. And as soon as possible."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"Draco took the note and, without saying a word, hurried out of the laboratory. Snape and Semiramis were left alone. They stood in silence, each immersed in their own thoughts. There was tension in the air, as if before a thunderstorm./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""You made the right choice, Severus ," Semiramis finally said, her voice quiet but firm./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"Snape didn't answer, but a hint of gratitude flashed in his eyes. He knew that Semiramis was right. He had to do everything he could to protect Harry Potter. For Lily's sake. For the sake of the future./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"strongspan lang="EN"***/span/strong/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"The sun was shining with all its might, flooding the majestic Millennium Fortress, spread out on the top of the hill with golden light, like a fairy-tale castle from ancient legends. Around the fortress stretched green meadows, dotted with bright flowers, and in the distance one could see dense forests stretching beyond the horizon./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, Ritsuka Fujimaru and Mash Kyrielight walked along the narrow path leading from the fortress to the foot of the hill. They were accompanied by homunculi led by Sigur, a tall and stately woman with long silver hair and piercing ruby eyes. Fiore and Caules Forvedge walked next to her, their faces serious and concentrated./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"The sun's rays played on Hermione's hair, giving it a shade of molten gold, and Ron had a wide smile on his face. He was glad to leave the gloomy walls of the fortress and return to the familiar world, where adventures and friends awaited him./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""I can't wait until we get back to Hogwarts ," he said, stretching like a cat in the sun. "I hope we will have a normal Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher this year."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Don't be so sure, Ron," Hermione countered, straightening the hair that had fallen down the bridge of her nose. - After everything that happened, the Ministry can appoint anyone./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""The main thing is that it's not Umbridge," Harry put in, and his friends nodded in agreement./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"At that moment, Caules Forvedge, walking a little behind, caught up with Harry and put his hand on his shoulder./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Harry," he said, his voice quiet and serious. "I have to ask you something."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Yes, of course," answered Harry, looking at Caules with curiosity./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""In the future from which you returned..." Caules began, and his voice trembled. "You could... could you protect Fiore and me then?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"Harry froze as if struck by thunder. He remembered the terrible events he had to endure, and pain pierced his heart like a sharp knife./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""I... I would willingly die for you," he answered, his voice hoarse. "But it wouldn't change anything. In that future, Voldemort won."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"Caules and Fiore looked at each other, their eyes widening in surprise./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""You... were you ready to die for us?" Fiore asked, her voice shaking with excitement. "For people you don't know at all?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""You are our new allies," Harry replied, a faint smile appearing on his face. "And I'm ready to do anything for my friends."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"Caules and Fiore were silent, shocked by his words. They had never met a man like Harry Potter, willing to sacrifice himself for others./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"At that moment something strange happened. Harry felt his body seem to dissolve into thin air, and everything swam before his eyes./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Harry!" Hermione exclaimed, but her voice sounded as if from afar./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"Harry tried to say something, but couldn't. He felt like he was being pulled into some kind of funnel, and he could not resist it./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"And then he disappeared./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"Mordred, Jeanne Alter and Ellen, walking slightly behind the main group, witnessed Harry's inexplicable disappearance. One moment he was there, and the next he disappeared into thin air like a ghost. The traitor knight, dressed in her shining armor, stopped abruptly, her piercing green eyes, blazing with inner fire, narrowed into slits./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Where did he go?" she growled, gripping the hilt of her sword so tightly that her knuckles turned white. "What kind of devilry is this?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"Jeanne Alter, dressed in her combat uniform, crossed her arms over her chest, her usually impassive face contorted in confusion./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Don't know. But it's not like regular magic," she replied, her voice sounding strained. "Something is unclean here."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"Ellen, in her elegant scarlet and white dress with gold accents, made in the Roman style, looked around, her golden eyes, like the eyes of a bird of prey, wary./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Something is wrong here," she repeated, her voice quiet but firm. "I feel... distortion. It was as if someone had interfered with the passage of time."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"At this moment, there was confusion all around. Ron, Hermione and Ritsuka ran around like lost children, not understanding what was happening. Their faces were pale, and fear was visible in their eyes. The homunculi, led by Sigur, bristled, their faces were distorted with anger, and a dangerous fire lit up in their eyes./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Who you are?" Sigur growled at Ron, Hermione and Ritsuka, her voice like thunder. "And what did you do with our guest?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""With what guest?" Ron asked in confusion, his voice trembling. "What are you talking about?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Don't play dumb!" Sigur snapped, her eyes flashing with anger. "You came here with Harry Potter. Where is he?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"Ron, Hermione and Ritsuka looked at each other, not understanding what Sigur was talking about./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""We... we don't know any Harry Potter," Hermione stammered, her voice barely audible./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""You're lying!" shouted the black-robed homunculus, his face red with rage. "You came here with him! And now he has disappeared! What did you do with him?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""We didn't do anything!" Ron was indignant, but his words were drowned in the general hubbub./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"The homunculi surrounded Ron, Hermione and Ritsuka, their eyes burning with hatred and their hands clenched into fists./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""They are lying!" one of the homunculi shouted. "They killed our guest!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Kill them!" picked up another./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Slow and painful!" added a third./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"Mordred, Jeanne Alter and Ellen watched from the sidelines without interfering./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""It looks like someone erased the memories of all these people," Mordred said, rubbing her chin thoughtfully. "And, apparently, he erased the memory of Harry."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""But who and why?" asked Jeanne Alter, frowning./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""That's what we need to find out," Ellen replied, her gaze fixed on Ron, Hermione and Ritsuka, surrounded by angry homunculi. "Otherwise things won't go well for these three."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"The atmosphere around was thickening like thunderclouds before a storm. The air was filled with tension and fear. And no one knew what would happen next./span/p